The 26th NFL championship game was the first play-off game to ever go to sudden death overtime, with American football legend Johnny Unitas leading his Baltimore Colts to victory over the New York Giants at Yankee Stadium.

Leading 17-14 with two minutes to go in the fourth quarter and on their own 14-yard line, Unitas engineered one of the most famous drives in football history that saw Steve Myhra tie the game with seven seconds left and send it to overtime.

After going 3-0, Unitas drove the Colts drove 80 yards in 13 plays, with running back Alan Ameche and wide receiver Raymond Berry prominent. Ameche scored on a one yard touchdown run to win the game.

Other memorable events on this day 

1977: Ian Botham makes his Test debut for England v Australia at Trent Bridge, taking figures of 5-74 in the first innings. He took another five wickets in the second innings.

1984: The 1984 Summer Olympics officially open in Los Angeles.

1991: Miguel Indurain, of Spain, wins the Tour de France. It is just the start with the win the first of five consecutive triumphs.

2001: Australian Ian Thorpe becomes the first swimmer to win six gold medals at a single World Championships.